The History of HLA and Transplantation

The origins of the humoral theory of transplantation, which states that allografts are rejected by antibodies （and not directly by cells）, can be traced back 100 years. This is when the method of detecting antibodies was first introduced. The methods for detection have become increasingly more sophisticated, permitting development of more specific proof of the hypothesis. Evidence has accumulated that antibodies cause: hyper acute rejection, acute rejection, and chronic rejection of grafts. Moreover, rejection of transplants of essentially all solid organs can now be associated with antibodies: kidneys, hearts, lungs, liver, and islets. Currently, new studies show that removal of antibodies leads to enhanced survival of transplants. If eventually, achievement of high graft survival rates result from antibody detection and removal, the humoral theory of transplantation can be considered to be validated